The President of Colombia has declared three days of national mourning for the victims of the devastating earthquake.

The President of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, declared a national mourning for three days following the earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 on the Richter scale, which occurred on August 10, 2026.

The earthquake, the strongest this century for Colombia, caused approximately 240 deaths, according to regional authorities. The president's decree, issued on Wednesday, emphasizes the government's solidarity with the victims' families and announces that the national flag will be flown at half-mast at public buildings and diplomatic missions.

The earthquake had its epicenter in San Jose del Palmar, affecting the regions of Choco, Valle del Cauca, Risaralda, and Caldas. Search and rescue operations continue in the cities of Cali and Pereira, where buildings have collapsed, leaving hundreds of people trapped under the rubble. The Colombian government expresses its grief and solidarity with the victims and their families in the face of this tragedy.